A JP1/Software Distribution system consists of the following components:

Managing server

The managing server is the system that is positioned at the top in the hierarchy; it executes the jobs that distribute software to lower systems and jobs that acquire inventory information.

In addition to executing jobs, you can use the managing server to manage lower-level systems. For example, you can use it check the status of job execution and to display and sum up the values in acquired inventory information.

Relay manager/system

A relay manager/system (relay manager and/or relay system) is positioned between a managing server and clients; it relays jobs from the managing server to lower-level systems.

In addition to the job relay functionality, a relay manager/system includes both managing server functionality for executing jobs in the lower-level systems, and client functionality for receiving jobs.

You can place not only clients under a relay manager/system, but also other relay managers/systems.

Client

A client is a system that is positioned under a managing server and a relay manager/system; it receives and executes jobs executed by the managing server and reports the execution results.

A client can install distributed software and report its inventory to the managing server.

The following figure shows the relationships between a managing server, relay manager/system, and clients in a JP1/Software Distribution system:

Figure 1-20 Relationships between the JP1/Software Distribution system components

In a system managed by a single department server for the entire JP1/Software Distribution system, a relay manager/system acts as the managing server in that system.

Figure 1-21 Relationships between the JP1/Software Distribution system components (in a system managed by a department server)